Valve construction



O 1951 R. A. THOMPSON VALVE CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 50, 1948 INVENTOR.RICHARD A.THEIMP5UN BY m A, M,

AT TURNEY Patented Nov. 13, 1951 vALVE CONSTRUCTION,

Richard A. Thompson, West Caldwell, N. J., as-

- signor to Wright Aeronautical Corporation, a

corporation of New York Application September 30, 1948,-Serial No.51,911

This invention relates to valvesand is particularly directed to aremotely operable valve construction together with a novel applicationof said valve.- 1

An object of the present invention comprises the provision of a novelvalve which can be readily operated from a remote point. Specificallythe valve of the present invention comprises a tube of rubber-likematerial which is arranged to conveythe fluid to be controlled by saidvalve. Means are provided for applying a fluid under pressure externallyof said tube for at least partially collapsing said tube.

Although the novel valve of the present invention is of generalapplication, a further object of the invention'is directed to theprovision of a novel measuring system utilizing a plurality of saidvalves, whereby a large number of pressures can be successively measuredin groups by a relativelysmall number of instruments.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent upon reading theannexed detailed description in connection with the drawing in which:

Figure 1 is an axial sectional View through a valve embodying theinvention;

Figure 2 .is a sectional view taken along line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 with the valve in its closedposition; and Figure 4 illustrates an application of the valveillustrated in Figures 1 to 3 to a novel measuring system.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawing, a valve body II], ofmetallic or other rigid material, is provided with a bore or chamber I2formed therein. The valve body I8 is also provided with first and secondaligned passageways l4 and I6 opening into said chamber from oppositesides. A tube I8 of rubber-like material extends across said chamber l2and into said passageways, said tube forming a passage for the fluid tobe controlled by the valve I from some remote point. A pair of sleeves20 and 22 of relatively rigid material are provided, the one sleeve 26securely anchoring and sealing a portion of the tube I8 against thewalls of the passage I4 and the, other sleeve 22 securely anchoring andsealing another portion of the tube I8 against the walls of the passageI6. The fluid to be controlled is' arranged to flow through the tube I8.said fluid may be supplied to and from the valve body passageways I4 andI6 by suitable conduits or as illustrated the tube I8 itself may projectfrom the valve body I0 for conveying said fluid to and from said valve.v V

3 Claims. (01. 137-144) 2 The diameter of the bore or chamber I2 ispreferably larger than that of the tube I8, as best seen in Figure 2, sothat any fluid under pressure supplied to said chamber I2 acts againstthe entire external surface of said tube in said chamber.

- sure to the chamber I2 the portion of the tube I8 within said chambercan be partially or completely collapsed (as illustrated in Figure 3)depending on the magnitude of said fluid pressure: The pressure requiredto completely collapse or' close the tube I8 depends on the stiffness ofthe.

rubber tube I8 and the pressure inside said tube.

Obviously, the chamber I2 need notbe larger than that of the tube I 8since, as long as the chamber I2 communicates with a portion of theexternal surface of the tube I8, said tube can be collapsed by applyingsufiicient pressure to the chamber I2.

A conduit 24 communicates with the chamber 25 I2 and with a valve 26disposed at some remote point. In its position illustrated in Figure 3,the valve 26 is open and connects a source of fluid under pressure in asupply line 28 to the conduit 24 and chamber I2. In its position ofFigure 1,

the valve 26 closes or shuts ofl said fluid pres- 3O sure and connects adrain passage 30 to said conduit 24 and chamber I2.

said pressure thereby at least partially closing the valve I8. If itstube I8 is completely collapsed, as illustrated in Figure 3, the valve I0 is completely 4o closed. When the valve 26 is moved back to its closedposition of Figure 1, the fluid pressure is cut off from the conduit 24and chamber I2 and instead said conduit and chamber are vented through adrain passage 38 whereupon the flexible rubber-like tube I8 returns toits normally tubular condition to open the valve l0 thereby permittingfluid flow therethrough. This construction provides a relatively simplearrangement for controlling the valve I0 from the remote point at whichthe valve 26 is disposed.

Each sleeve 28 and 22 produces compression within the adjacent wall ofthe rubber-like tube I8 thereby securely anchoring and sealing the tubeI8 to the walls of the passageways I4 and I8.

For this purpose, the free external diameter of the tube I8 ispreferably slightly larger than the The sleeves 28 and 22 compress therubber-like material of the tube l8 against the walls of passageways l4and I6 whereby the tube I8 itself provides a fluid tight seal for thecham-- l0 ber I2. By supplying a fluid under suflicient presinternaldiameter of the passageways I4 and I6 and the free internal diameter ofsaid tube is preferably slightly smaller than the external diameter ofthe sleeves 26,and 22. For example, in a valve I6 in which the passagesI4 and I6 have an internal diameter of 0.266 inch it has beenfoundsatisfactory-to make the sleeves and 22 0.375 inch long with anexternal, diameter of 0.188 inch and the tube I8 is provided with a freeinternal diameter of 0.183 inch and a free external diameter of 0.295inch. By freev diam:

eter" of the tube I8 is meant its diameter when no external forces areapplied theretoa The sleeve 26 and 22 and the rubber-like tube-I8 may beassembled within the passageways I4 and I6 by first axially stretchingsaid tube to reduce the thickness of its wall.

position illus'tratedfthe passages 46a, 42a, 44a,-

The purpose" of the sleeves 26 and 22 is to place which a plurality ofpressures can-be measuredand/or controlled in groups. The pressuresto bemeasured are connected to onexend of a plu' rality of inlet passages46a, 42a, 44a etc; a

plurality of inlet passages 46b; 421), etc.; andso forth, in a valveblock 56, the other ends'of the said inlet passages being closed bysuitable plugs 39.- The passages 46a,:42a, etc. are hereinafter referredto as the a group, the passages 46b, 421), etc. are hereinafterreferredto as the I) group, and so forth. The number of said groups. ofpassages and thenumber of passages in each group can obviously bevaried-as desired;

A valve similar to the valve I6 of Figures 1 to 3- is'provided in eachof said passages, 'ea'chsaid etc., respectively, while the b, c,etcJgroups of valve comprising a tube 52 of rubber-like mate- 7 rial.secured in said passages by sleeves 54.. In

addition, .bores 56a, 5619, etc., havinga diameter; larger than that ofsaid passages, extend across.

the tubes 52 of the a, b, 0, etc. groups of passages, .respectively, toprovide a chamber preferably surrounding each tube 52,-to which bores a.

fluid under pressure can be selectively supplied as hereinafterdescribed.

The valve block 50'is also provided with a plurality of outlet passages16,12,64, etc, to which pressure responsive measuring in'stmments'BO-F82, 64, etc., are connected. The passage 16. com--:

municates with the outlet end of-each:tubef52 disposed-in the passages46a, 46b, 46c',1etc.,

whereby said outlet-passage I6 is arranged .to'

communicate one at a time withathe passages 46a, 46b, 460,- etc.-,depending on whioh one of their valves is open. Similarly the passage12: is arranged to communicateone-ata timewith the passages 42a,- 42b,s20, etc, and so forth. The number of outlet passages 16, '12f14,etc-.-,"is-

equal to the number of inlet passages in each of the (1.17, 0, etc.groups.

A source of fluid under pressureds connected to a supply passage 58 in avalve 66 "which is arrangedto selectively connect SaidSOUI' CB Ofpressure to all but one of the bores' 56:1;"5619; etc; 'For thispurpose, the valve 66' is provided 4 with a groove 6| which is adaptedto connect its'inlet supply passage 58 to all but one of its outletports 62a, 62b, 620, etc. In addition, the valve 66 is provided with adrain passage 64 which is arranged to be selectively connected to itssaid outlet ports. As illustrated in Figure 4, Q

the drain passage 64 is-connectedto the valve outlet port 62a and thebore 156a whereby the tubes 52 in the a group of passages are all open.

'The outlet'ports 62b, 620, etc., and their associated bores 56b,- 560,etc, are all connected to the source of fluid pressure 5B. The source offluidpre'ssure {58115 sufiiciently large that the rubber-dike tubes- 52in the b, 0, etc. groups of passages areiallcompletely collapsed orclosed 7 thereby- Accordingly with the valve 66 in the etcg 'are opento'the outlet passages I6, I2, 14,

passages are :closed to said-= outlet passages whereby the'pressure insaid -a group of passages; can be measured by-the instruments 86, 82,64;

etc. connected to said outlet passages. When his desiredto measure thepressures communicated to theb group :ofpassa-ges, the'valve 66isrotated so as to bring the drain passa e 64 into.

communication with the valve port- 62b. In this way, a large number ofpressures can'be successively measured in groups (the 11.19, c, etc.groupsl- 7 by the'relatively smallnumber of measuring;

instruments 86., 82, 84, etc. i

The block 56 may comprise'a one-piece con struction or, asindicatedby;the lines 96, itmay comprise a plurality of -sections,. one for -each ofthe groups of pressures to be measured; The sections of the block 56 arebolted or otherwisesecured together withsuitable sealing gasketsdisposed-therebetween.- With this sectional construction, additionalgroups :of pressures can readily beadded to the system for measurement,

without any increasein the number of measuring: instruments 86.62, etc.merelyby addingextrasections to the block 56 with the pressure COI-nections thereto.

departing fromith'espirit or scope thereof. I aim in the appendedcl-aims'to cover allsuch modifications.

I claim as my invention:

1., A systemxior measuring afirst group of fluid pressures and a'sec'ondgroup of fiuid"pressures:;-'- said system comprising a first pluralityoipassageways for said firstigroupof fluid pressures;

a second group 01 passageways for said second group of fluid"pressures;a'plurality of tubes of rubber-like material; each forming-at least aportion of onebf'said passageways, respectively inlet passages, eachcommunicating with the exterior of the rubber tubes of each group ofpassageways: outlet passagespeach communicating" with one passageway ofeach group and mea iscommunicating with-said inlet passages "for 'selectively applying apressure'fluid to said inletpas W sages to compress thecorresponding tubes: u

2. A system-jformeasuring-a pair of fluid pres sures; said systemcomprising a first'pair e'f pas sageways, one foreach of saidfluid-pressuresfi a pair of tubes-of rubbrdik-material, one i.o'r'each'- of said passageways-and -"connected at oneend'to itsrespectivepassagewayasecond pair-bf -pas'-' sageways, one for each ofsaid rubber-like tubb} While I have described my inventionin detail{ inits 7 present: preferred embodiment; it I will be obvious to thoseskilled in the art, 'afterunder-F standing my: invention, that variouschanges' and modifications maybe madetherein; without and having one enddisposed externally of and adjacent to its associated rubber-like tube;means for selectively applying a fluid pressure to said second pair ofpassageways for closing its associated rubber-like tube; and an outletpassageway connected to the other ends of both said tubes forselectively receiving said pair of fluid pressures to be measured.

3. A system for measuring a first group of fluid pressures and a secondgroup of fluid pressures; said system comprising a first group ofpassageways, one for each of the fluid pressures of said first group; asecond group of passageways, one for each of the fluid pressures of saidsecond group; a plurality of tubes of rubber-like 15 material, one foreach of said passageways and connected at one end to its respectivepassageway; a pair of passageways, one for each of said first and secondgroups of passageways and communicating with the exterior of therubber-like tubes connected to the passageways of its respective groupof said first and second groups of passageways; means for selectivelyapplying a fluid REFERENCES CITED The following references are of recordin the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,284,465 Ryan Nov. 12, 19182,069,261 Monnet Feb. 2, 1937 2,297,026 Sanford Sept. 29, 1942 2,457,655Gifiord Dec. 28, 1948

